Out-of-this-world feeling as teens land roles in sci-fi drama

Two teenagers have landed roles in a CBBC series, after beating thousands of hopefuls from across the UK.

Vicky Allen (18) and Tara Greene (17) have won speaking parts in the third series of The Sparticle Mysteries, a science fiction drama.

The girls, who are pupils of the Pamela Cassells School of Performance, have already completed the filming and it’s now just a matter of waiting until January, when they can watch themselves on the ‘big screen’.

This will be Tara’s second time appearing on a CBBC series, having landed a role last year in Dani’s Castle.

The pair were selected for this latest production after a lengthy audition process, which included a video of the girls reading the script being sent off to the casting agent.

Explained Pamela, “When the girls were recalled, they were sent more script again, before they were eventually chosen. -

“To get a role with dialogue in TV is amazing. The casting agent auditioned thousands of girls for these parts from all over the UK.

She added, “The casting director was very complimentary about both girls and since then has been on the phone again with more programme opportunities for the students.”

Tara, who is going into Upper Sixth at St Michael’s in Lurgan, will play the quirky Madonna, while Vicky, who is studying Performing Arts at Lisburn FE College, will play Trooper, ‘a bit of a psycho and would-be leader’.

The girls’ scenes were shot over three days in Crumlin Road Gaol, and the whole experience should stand them in good stead, with both wanting to pursue careers in acting.

Vicky has performed in a number of college performances including Hairspray and Road by Jim Cartwright.

Recently, she also caught the eye of a casting director who described her talents as “fantastic”.

Tara, meanwhile, has not only appeared on CBBC but was last year cast in the lead role of Cinderella at the pantomime in Ballymena.